Thread-tension device.



1. EASTWOOD.

THREAD TENSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.28. 1913,

l 17,636, Patented Jan. l1, 1916.

COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH Cu..w^smNoT0-N. u. c.

f .narran rara rarrnni konnten.

JAMES EASTWGOD, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN EASTWOOD COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY. A CORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY.

THREAD-TENSION DEVICE.

morose.

Application filed August 28, 1913.

To all @IJ/710m it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES EAsTwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use Improvements in Thread-Tension Devices; and T do hereby ldeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptio-n of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to thread tension devices, and while capable of general use, the same is primarily intended for employment in winding and spooling operations.

The present invention aims to provide a tension device wherein the parts are so organized and related as to render the entire structure of extreme simplicity, thereby enabling the device to be produced with but few parts, and permitting their assemblage withoutthe necessity of highly-skilled labor. Y A further object of the present invention is to provide a thread tension the construction of which is such that the thread may be readily and expeditiously introduced thereto', and when inserted therein is permitted to freely travel through the device without liability to breakage, the organization of the parts being such that the thread is capable of travel. at a high rate of speed.

The invention also contemplates a thread tension device wherein provision is made for effectual regulation of the tension, either by increasing or decreasing the latter, thus assuring adaptation of the device to varying conditions o f use, and likewise to varying sizes of threads.

Having, therefore, these general objects in view, and others which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understo-od, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims, the form of the invention now disclosed being, at this time, a preferred embodiment thereof. This form, however, is susceptible to change, variation and modification, and the invention, therefore, is considered ,to be 'includedin and comprehended by any such changes, variations or niodca;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. il, i916.

Serial No. 787,175.

tions as fall within the spirit and scope of the claims hereto appended.

Tn the drawings-l4`igure l is a side elevation of a thread tension device constructed in accordance with and embodying the hereindescribed invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device. F ig. d is a sectional plan View. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. G is a transverse sectional view, as on the line 6 6, Fig. l.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates the body of the hereindescribed tension device. In the form of the invention illustrated, this body is a cylindrical shell, and is open at both ends. lt may be made of any suitable material capable of being shaped, but its interior surface, and particularly the bottom portion thereof along which the thread is designed to travel in its transit through the device, should be smooth so as to be free of projections or protuberances which might interfere with the free movement of the thread. At the top portion of the body l, and extending longitudinally thereof, is a slot 2 through which the thread may be introduced to and removed from the body l. This slot 2, at a point intermediate the ends of the body l, and preferably midway there of, is enlarged to provide an opening 3, the purpose of this opening being to permit the introduction and removal of the tensionproducing devices, to be hereinafter referred to, to and from the interior of the body.

At each end of the body l is arranged a closure head 4, which head isiprovided at its bottom portion with oppositely-extending outwardly-projecting attaching feet 5, said feet being perforated.y as at 6, for the reception of screws or other suitable fastening devices, whereby the tension device may be secured in operative position. Each of the closure heads 4; is provided with an annular flange 7 which encircles the contiguous end of the body l, and said body is frictionally held within the respective closure heads d. This is due to the fact that the body l. being divided longitudinally by reason of the slot 2, possesses transverse resiliency, and may be slightly compressed for introduction to the .heads 4, whereupon the ends ofthe body l will expand, upon release of the pressure necessary to compress the same, andthus tightly engage the annular flanges 7 of the heads. 'lhe employment of fastening devices, therefore, to hold the closure heads 4 upon the body l is entirely eliminated and said heads aid in shaping the body.

Extending vertically of each oit the heads t is a substantially V-shaped slot 8, said slots registering at their upper ends with the longitudinal slot 2 of the body l, and through the slots 8, the thread, introduced through the slot 2, may be drawn down to the bottom of the body l for travel thereover in the transit of the thread through the device.

For regulating the tension on the thread, the present invention contemplates the employment of a plurality of tension -producing elements 9. These are in the form of balls, and the number used may be varied. They are introduced through the opening 3 to the interior of the body l, and rest upon the bottom of said body, and the thread is interposed between the balls and the bottom of the body l, as indicated by dotted lines, the weight of the balls 9 thus resting upon the thread. Manifestly, each ball is capable of independent rotation, and as the thread is fed through the device, the` balls serve to impart the necessary tension to the same. This tension may be varied by the employment of varying sizes of balls. Hence, if greater tension is required, heavier balls are introduced to the body l, and if less tension be required, the heavier balls are substituted by lighter ones.

In theuse of the hereindescribed tension device, it being assumed that the requisite size of the balls 9 has been determined upon, and the balls introduced to the interior of the body l, the thread is passed downwardly through the slot 2 and the slots 8 in the closure heads 4, the balls 9 permitting the thread to be positioned upon the bottom of the body. Because of the circular crosssection of the body l, the balls are maintained at the lowest point thereof, and thus in a position to rest upon the thread. In the transit of the thread, the weight of the balls exerts the requisite pressure, and imparts uniform tension to the thread during the travel of the latter. The fact that each ball rotates independently of the others enables the thread to travel at a high rate of speed without liability to rupture, and if different degrees of tension be necessary, the same is accomplished by substituting different sizes of balls, as previously indicated.

The frictional engagement of the closure heads 4 with the ends of the bodv 1 permits a ready separation of the` parts to enable the device to be cleaned, if this be required, and, obviously. the lack of fastening devices between the closure heads and the body renders the assembling of the parts simple and expeditious.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters ratent, is: v

l. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated body the ends of which are open, said body being provided with a longitudinal slot for the passage of the thread, closure heads inclosing the ends of and shaping said body and provided with slots to receive the thread, and tension-producing elements arranged within said bodv.

2. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated tubular body having a longitudinal slot formed therein for the reception of the thread, a closure device associated with each end of the body, said closure devices and the body being fri'ctionally engaged so that the former positions the latter, said closure devices also being slotted coincident with the longitudinal slot in said body, and tension producing elements arranged within said body.

3. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated open-ended body having an entrance slot for the passage of the thread thereto, caps inclosing the ends of said body and aiding in shaping the latter, each of said closures being provided with a slot for passage of the thread, and means within the ody for imparting the requisite tension to v the thread in its transit therethrough.

4. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated resilient shell-like body the ends of which are open, said body being provided with a longitudinal slot for the 'passage of the thread, flanged closure heads surrounding the open ends ofl said body and frictionally engaged therewith by the expansion of the latter' therein, each of said heads being provided with a slot for the passage of the thread through the device, and tension-producing means located within said shell.

5. A thread tension device, comprising a 110 tubular bodv the ends of which are open, said body being provided with a thread-re- Y ceiving slot, and being resilient in atransverse direction, closure heads frictionally engaged with the ends of said body, the lat'- 115 ter being expanded therein; each of said heads being provided with a slotfor the passage of the thread in its transit through the device. anl tension-producing means arranged within said body.

6. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated tubular body having open ends, said bodv having a longitudinally extending slot for the introduction of thread thereto. closure devices engaging the ends of 125 said body to support the latter and close the open ends thereof, said closure devices being also slotted coincident with the slot in said bodv. and tension producing means Within the bodyw 7 ,j 130 7. A thread tension device, comprising a resilient tubular body the ends of which are open, closure heads having the ends of said body expanded therein and provided with slots to permit passage of the thread through the body, and a plurality of balls arranged within the tubular body for imparting tension to the thread, said body being also provided with a longitudinally-extending slot in registry with the slots of the closure heads for permitting introduction of the thread to the device, the sides of said slot being enlarged at a point intermediate the ends of the body to form an opening for the introduction and removal of said balls to and from the tubular body.

8. A thread tension device, comprising an elongated tubular body having open ends and provided with a longitudinally extending slot for the introduction of thread to the body, closure devices supporting the ends of said body and positioning and shaping the latter by frictional engagement therewith, said closure devices also being slotted coincident with the longitudinal slot in said body. and tension producing means located within said body.

9. A thread tension device, comprising a tubular shell having a longitudinally-extending slot in its upper portion for introduction of the thread to the shell, the ends of the shell each being provided with a transversely-extending slot which communicates with the iirst-mentioned slot to permit the proper' positioning of the thread, said ends also providing a base for said shell, and means within the shell for imparting tension to the thread in its transit through the device.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES EASTWOOD.

Witnesses:

RAYTON E. HoRToN, HELEN GRANGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

